Magnetic pump



Nov. 22, 1932. A. LANcToT ET AL MAGNET IC PUMP Filed May 5l, 1952 f f lf Patented ov. 22, 1932.

UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE ADOLPH LANCTOT, OF DESPLAIN'ES, AND ERNESTSPERISEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOS MAGNETIC PUMP Application med May 31,1932. Seri-a1 No. 614,458.

Our invention relates to Huid pumps and particularly to a magnetic pumpadapted for the elevation of gasoline or other combustible fluids.

5 We are aware that numerous magnetic pumps have been devised andoperated, many thereof with little success. The difficulties that ariseare occasioned by faults in design resulting in poor operation ornon-operation 1 0 after a period of use. This is fatal so far as motorvehicle operation is concerned, inasmuch as it wholly incapacitates themotor until a repair or replacement is made. A fuel pump, in order to beuseful in any sense,

must be so constructed that its operation shall be certain, barring wearor faults in material or workmanship; in other words, a device that willoperate indefinitely and with certainty and that is not subject totamper- 2o ing by the user. We believe we have designed a device thatfulfills the most exacting requirements and that will operateindefinitely without adjustment orl attention in any particular.

We accomplish this result by improvements in several features of thedesign.

First: One of the fundamental difficulties encountered in a magneticpump is that of the fusing or fouling of contacts, it being essential,of course, that such a device be provided with a pair of contacts soarranged that the circuit is made and broken a very large number oftimes per minute when in operation. We have avoided this difficulty byproviding a pair of contacts of relatively large size and so arrangedthat fusing or sticking is impossible and the likelihood of fouling 1sextremely remote. The pair of contacts are located within a body of theliquid in motion and furthermore, in line with the flow of liquid, thistending to prevent the accumulation of any extraneous matter that mightinterfere with a good electrical Contact.

Second: Another cause of trouble in magnetic pumps of this type is andhas been the flexible element constituting the piston that effects thepumping action. Such elements havejin some cases taken the form of metaldiaphragms, or bellows formed of metal and of relatively small area.Even though the reciprocatory movement transmitted to the flexibleelement is comparatively small the ultimate fatigue point of the metalhas interfered with indefinite operation through long periods. Allmetals, particularly those drawn during1 the process of fabrication havean establis ed fatigue point, in some instances running into themillions of actuations, but in a pump of this character the actuationseven during a reasonable period of time of operation will extend farinto the millions. This fact has resulted in the failure of manyotherwise satisfactory pump designs. We have overcome this diiculty b.utilizing a diaphragm of relatively very large area, in fact of adiaphragm that extends across the entire transverse area of the pumpcasing and have utilized a closely woven fabric treated with ahydrocarbon-inert substance, rendering it impermeable to the passage ofgasoline. In view of the very large size of the diaphragm and the factthat the movement thereof is very slight, its expected life is infinite.This may reasonably be expected because each of the fibers constitutingthe threads of the fabric is individually subjected to so slight adelection as to render the possibility of failure wholly incalculable.

Third: Another point of relatively great importance in the matter ofmanufacturing cost is in that we avoid all screws or threaded parts inthe assembly with the exception of a wire terminal and two. pipesockets. There is otherw: se no screw threaded part in the entiredevice; all the parts may be produced in punch press or automaticmachine operation.

Fourth: A further point of advantage is that after the parts of ourdevice are assembled, the dome or upper part of the casing is spun overor permanently joined to the other part of the casing, thus making itimpossible for the user to tamper with the device or to attempt anyadjustments.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing in which the figure is a vertical sectional viewthrough a magnetic pump constructed in accordance with our invention.

In the drawing we have illustrated a twopart casing, the lower or bodypart and the upper or dome part 11 being joined, as

will be hereafter described, b spinning over the flan ed upper edge 12 othe body art. Soldere into t e lower portion of the dy of the casing isa threaded socket 13 adapted to receive an inlet pipe not shown. Asimilar member 14 is secured in the dome and p rovides for theconnection of an outlet pipe thereto.

A branch pipe 15 is connected to the inlet and projects downward throu ha screen 16 into a glass sediment bowl 17 w ich is removabl held inposition by means of a spring bai 18. These parts are readily removablefor the urpose of cleaning the screen and discharging any sediment.

Located within .the body of the casing is a solenoidal magnet 19 ofcommon construction. This is located in a contracted portion of the bodyof the casing and suitably held in place. In order to insure a thoroughelectrical connection through the casing to the ground we spin ribs 20in the side wall of the casing, the ribs embracing a metallic cross Wall20a that forms a part of the magnet assembly. One electrical connectionfor the magnet is in the form of an insulated pin 21 having a wireconnection 22 to the coil, the pin resting on a resilient arm 23 havingan insulatedconnection through the casing to an exterior wire terminal24. The other electrical connection is through the wire 25 and springcontact member 26 to the transverse plate 27. The margins of this plateare firmly held between two rings 28, 29 of insulating material fittedinto the upper or enlarged part of the body of the casing. The plate 27has an axial opening, surrounding which is a disc 30 having an innerflange that projects into the axial openin in the plate and at itsperiphery is provided with a plurality of ton es 31 that project throughopenin in t e plate and serve to underlie and ho d a contact piece 32referably composed of stainless steel and nown in the trade as AscoloyThis piece may be in the form of a disc of relatively large size inorder to insure ample area of contact.

The pump elements comprise a solenoid core 33 mounted to operate withinan axial opening in the magnet and provided on its upper edge with anAscoloy contact disc 34 the edges of which are crimped over the top ofthe core member. Fixed to the core 33 is a relatively long tube 35 thatis guided at. its lower end through a fixed sleeve 36 held by the magnetand projecting at its lower end into the liquid space 37, in thelowerpart of the body of the casing. The core a-nd tube are .normally pressedupwardly by means of the coil spring 38 surrounding the tube. The tubehas openings 39 thereon in order to prevent the trapping of any liquidbeneath the core.

At a point just above the core and in register with the fixed contactpiece 32 we provide a plurality of lateral openino's 40 in the tube,these bein so placed that the liquid in passing in auf out of the spacesurrounding the contacts will be caused to flow over the contactsthereby constantly sweeping the surfaces and preventing the lodgement ofsolids that would interfere with an electrical contact.

On the u per end of the tube 35 we mount a sleeve 41liavin a wide flange42. A tubular element or co1 ar is pressed over the sleeve 41, thecollar havin a curved marginal flange 44 the curved portion of whichcontacts the fabric diaphragm 45. The inner marginal edge of thediaphragm is securely clamped between the flanges 42, 44 while theperipheral edge is clamped between the insulated ring 29 and the footflange 46 of the head piece 47. The parts are assembled as describedwith suita le washers interposed and the margin 12 of the dome spun overto permanently join the assembly against tampering. As heretofore statedthe fabric of the diaphra is treated with a substance that is insolu lein gasoline and that will render the fabric impermeable to the passageof gasoline therethrough. i

Mounted on the up er end of the tube 35 is an inlet valve 48 he dagainst its seat by a spring 49 that presses against the apertured topwall of the cap 43. A similar valve 50 controls the outlet of fluid andis seated on a plug or sleeve 51 in the head piece 47 and held in placeby a spring 52. 'lhe openings 53 provide for the outlet of the fluidinto the dome or upper part 11 of the casing.

A clamping member 54 having attaching ears 55 may be used for securingthe device in proper operating position.

The operation will be apparent from the preceding description. It willbe understood of course, that the device is grounded and that theclosing of the contacts 3234 completes a circuit through the magnet andthereby retracts the core against the force of the spring. It may beadvantageous to note that while the vertically reciprocating movement ofthe pump element is very small yet the diaphragm 45 is of relativelygreat area. Inasmuch as this diaphragm is of fabric construction itsexpected life under the circumstances is infinite. Further it should benoted that the area of contact between the contact pieces 32, 34 is verygreat and no trouble from that source need be expected through longperiods of operation. It should further be noted that the process ofassembly is logical and progressive, the parts being inserted in thecasing in sequence and finally enclosed by the dome which is permanentlyjoined to the body of the casing. A device so constructed is im-1,ass,saa

pregnable to tampering and may be expected to operate indefinitelywithout attention. All the principal parts are simple stampings that maybe constructed in quantities at very low cost.

Obviously the construction is capable of some modification and we do notwish to be imited except as indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a magnetic pump, the combination of a two part casing consistingof a body and a dome in superimposed relation, a fluid inlet in the bodyand an outlet inthe dome, a magnet within the body, an armatureconcentric with the magnet, a tube secured to and projecting axiallythrough the armature into a liquid space below the magnet and above themagnet, into the dome, a diaphragm extending across the space above themagnet and held at its edges at the junction of the body and dome andmovable with the armature, and a contact piece held above the magnet inposition to be contacted by an upward motion of the armature.

2. In a magnetic pump the combination of a casing having inlet andoutlet openings, a solenoidal magnet within the casing, a solenoid core,a diaphragm projected across the casing above the magnet, a tubeextending axially through the solenoid core and projecting into thespace beneath the magnet and through the diaphragm into the spacethereabove, spring means for lifting the core away from the magnet, anda cont-act'piece in the space beneath the diaphragm and in position tobe contacted by the rising core.

3. In a magnetic pump the combination of a casing having inlet andoutlet openings, a solenoidal magnet within the casing, a solenoid core,a diaphragm projected across the casing above the magnet, a tubeextending axially through the solenoid core and projecting into thespace beneath the magnet and through the diaphra m into the spacethereabove, spring means or lifting the core away from the magnet and acontact piece surrounding the tube and out of contact therewith inposition to be contacted by the rising core to complete a circuitthrough the magnet.

4. In a magnetic pump the combination of a casing having inlet andoutlet openings, a solenoidal magnet Within the Casing, a solenoid core, a diaphragm projected across the casing above the magnet, a tubeextending axially through the solenoid core and projecting into thespace beneath the magnet and through the diaphragm into the spacethcreabove, spring means for lifting the core away from the magnet, aninsulated wall projecting across the casing above the magnet andelectrically connected thereto, said wall having an opening throughwhich said tube projects, said wall being located in poi sition to becontacted by the rising core and acting to complete a circuit throughsaid magnet to return the core.

5. In a magnetilcnpump the combination of a casing having et and outletopenings, a solenoidal ma et within the casing, a solenoid core, adiaphragm projected across the casing above the magnet, a tube extendingaxially through the solenoid core and projecting into the space beneaththe magnet and through the diaphragm into the space thereabove, springmeans for lifting t e core away from the magnet, an insulated wallprojectin across the casing above the magnet and e ectrically connectedthereto, said wall having an opening through which said tube pro'ects,said wall being located in position to e contacted by the rising coreand acting to Acomplete a circuit through said magnet to return thecore, the arrangement providing a contact area substantially as great asthe area of the top of the core.

6. In a magnetic pump, the combination of a two part casing whose longaxis is vertical and having an inlet opening near the lower end and anoutlet opening near the top, a solenoidal magnet transversely arrangedin the casing with its core opening arranged vertically, a core andspring means tending to force it out of said opening, a tube carriedaxially of the core and communicating with the space beneath the magnet,a fixed insulated contact wall above the magnet and o erated to ermitsaid tube to project theret rough an in position to be contacted by therising core, a diaphragm above said contact wall and through which saidtube projects and to which it is secured, and valves for effecting thedischarge of liquid when the described' parts are actuated.

7. In a magnetic pump, the combination of a two part casing whose longaxis is vertical and having an inlet opening near the lower end and anoutlet opening near the top, a solenoidal magnet transversely arrangedin the casing with its core opening arranged vertically, a core andspring means tending to force it out of said opening, a tube carriedaxially of the core and communicating with the space beneath the magnet,a fixed, insulated contact wall above the magnet and apertured to permitsaid tube to project therethrough and in position to be contacted by therising core, a diaphragm above said contact wall and through which saidtube projects and to which it is secured, and valves for effecting thedischarge of liquid when the described parts are actuated, the describedparts being designed to be assembled sequentially in the casing and thediaphragm to be held in place by the joining of the two parts of thecasing.

8. In a pump, the combination of a two part casing providing an inletand an outlos let for fluid, a magnet therein, a magnet core, a pair ofcontacts for effecting the energizing of the magnet, and a diaphragmacting as a piston o rable by said core, said diaphragm extendingtransversely across the caslng with its periphery held at the junctionof the two parts of the casing.

9. In a liquid pump, the combination of a casing consisting of a bodpart and a dome part providing an inlet an an outlet for liquid, amagnet, core, and contacts within the body part, and a fabric diaphragmactuated by said core extending across the casin with its peripheraledge held at the junction of the two casing parts.

10. In a liquid pump, the combination of a casing consisting of a bodypart and a dome part providing an inlet and an outlet for iquid, amagnet, core, and contacts within the body part, and a fabric diaphragmactuated by said core extending across the casing with its peripheraledge held at the junction of the two casing parts, the casing partsbeing permanently joined as the final step in the assembly of thedevice.

11. In a liquid pump, the combination of a casing consisting of a bodypart and a dome part providing an inlet and an outlet for liquid, amagnet, core and contacts within the bod part, a fabric diaphragmactuated by sai core extending across the casing with its peripheraledge held at the junction of the two casing parts, and a tube extendinglongitudinally through the core and through the diaphragm andconstituting the operating connection between the core and thediaphragm.

12. In a liquid pump the combination of a casing having a liquid inletand an outlet, a magnet therein, a core, a contact wall extending acrossthe casing in position to be contacted by the rising core through whicha circuit is completed, a tube extending longitu'dinally through andfixed to the core, a diaphragm connected to the tube above the magnet,said tube having side openings in register with the space directlybeneath the contact wall whereby the fluid is caused to flow across thecontact surfaces during operation.

In testimony whereof we have aixed our signatures.

ADOLPH LANCTO'I". ERNEST SPERISEN.

